Mistakes & fixes

A missing button needs a replacement sewn on with a thread shank matching the fabric's thickness, so it sits without pulling the buttonhole tight. Match hole spacing to the buttonhole and reinforce with extra thread passes.

Thinning fabric at a sweater or shirt elbow, before it becomes a hole, can be strengthened with an iron-on patch, a fabric elbow patch, or darning stitched into the weak area to extend the garment's life.

A small, ragged hole in wool from moth larvae needs the surrounding area checked for further weak spots before mending with darning or a patch. Treat the whole garment for moths afterward.

A hole from wear, a snag, or a moth needs the surrounding fabric checked for further weakness before mending. Small holes can be closed with darning; larger ones need a patch behind or over the opening.

A zipper with broken teeth or a track that won't close needs to be unpicked from the garment and swapped for a new one of matching length and type. Baste the new zipper in before final stitching.